At the National Association of Arab Americans' "Day on the Hill," February 27, 1990

Senator Robert Dole (R-KS):

Sometimes progress comes slowly, and it is frustrating. But at least I believe you've made this much progress—the issues of your special concern are finally beginning to show up on scopes around Capitol Hill and around this town.

Some of the knee-jerk attitudes of old about issues of the Middle East are bumping up against some important new realities.

The realities of our federal budget and deficits—which must begin to shape our foreign aid priorities.

The realities of the incredible developments we see in Eastern Europe, in Southern Africa, and here on our doorstep in Central America—when contrasted with apparent intractability of events in the Middle East.

The realities of women and children—and let me say candidly: not always totally innocent women and children—but women and children nonetheless, confronting and sometimes being brutalized by heavily armed Israeli troops. Pictures broadcast on the nightly news, in ways that most Americans can't ignore.

It's a changing world—and there is no fence built around the Middle East, to keep those changes out; or for that matter around the minds of fair and honest Americans, who little-by-little are being affected by what is going on around the world, and in the Middle East.

Let me comment briefly on just three of the issues that I know concern you.

I hope that those of you who might see merit in what I have suggested will be active and aggressive in making your views known. Even if we don't prevail this time, good arguments, well-made, have a way of sticking in the backs of people's minds—and, somewhere down the road, paying off.

So that's one issue. A second one is the Middle East peace process. I really want to say only this:

It happens to be one issue where it's easy to take an even-handed approach. There is plenty of blame to go around.

But I agree with the recent statements of Secretary Baker and others. It is time for all parties to quit stalling and nitpicking and start negotiating.

Everybody involved has their own political needs and problems. But, as far as I know, we are ready; the Egyptians are ready. It is time to get on with it ...

Third, and finally, I want to say a word about an issue of special concern to me—Lebanon...

People are dying at an alarming rate—the carnage is far worse than it has been on the West Bank and in Gaza, or in Panama, or Romania, or anywhere else recently on the front pages. And I am convinced that it is not a viable or humane policy for this great country to just stand by and wait to see who will be the last survivor...

There may be some of Syrian descent here today. But I have never been known for pulling my punches, and I can't in good conscience do so today: Syria's policies are the biggest single barrier to peace in Lebanon.

The tripartite committee of the Arab League—Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Algeria—they have done an outstanding job. The Taif agreement which they brokered remains the "map" that has to be followed in Pursuit of peace in Lebanon. They deserve our continued support as they pursue their initiative.

But their job will not be fully done until Syria agrees to a binding timetable for a total withdrawal.

However, let me add this, too. Syria is not the only foreign force occupying part of Lebanon, and intruding into its sovereign affairs. All foreign forces must be withdrawn: Syria's, Iran's—and Israel's, too.

Sheikh Saud Nasir al-Sabah, Ambassador of Kuwait:

Aspirations for peace, freedom and stability among our people are as evident in the Arab world as they are elsewhere around the globe... These are also times of deep concern and anxiety for the Arabs...

On the bright side, we are very much encouraged by the fact that nine years of conflict in the Arabian Gulf region between Iraq and Iran have come to an end. Now, both countries can concentrate their efforts on the healing and rebuilding process while the whole Gulf region can shift its efforts towards development and improving the lot of the Arab world...

The Palestinian intifada is an uprising against occupation, against oppression, and against tyranny. We have seen how the uprisings and people's power in Eastern Europe and in South Africa have succeeded in changing the status quo despite the most tyrannical regimes in existence. There is no reason to believe that the Palestinians cannot achieve their objectives too, through similar means, considering their liberation movement started long before other nations picked up their lead...

We are very much encouraged by the progress that has been achieved towards peace in the last two years ... The chain of events that we are witnessing today would not and could not have come about without the bold, historic decisions and the initiatives that were taken by the Palestinians in Algiers and Geneva. Let us stress here, it is the Palestinians—through their PLO leadership—who triggered most of the changes that we witness in the region today. More than any of the parties concerned, they are the ones who have shown daring, foresight, and a genuine desire for peace. And let me make it clear: they are the only ones who have made concessions to allow the peace process to move forward...

So far, the attempts to focus the attention on elections in the occupied territories, for example. cannot but be interpreted as an attempt by Israel to avoid making some fateful decisions on some key questions: Does Israel want to exchange land for peace? Does it want a comprehensive settlement? Does it want to accept the international consensus? Is it ready to show respect for international law, treaties, and principles? We feel that when Israel provides clear answers to such questions, then perhaps the peace process can move forward much faster.

Despite a few reservations, we are very much encouraged by the efforts of the Bush administration to get the peace process going. In the year it has been in office, we feel that this administration has taken American policies towards the Middle East along a new and bold direction. It has shown a vision and sound perception towards the complex problems of our region rarely seen in official Washington before...

Many of us ... sense more sensitivity to issues of concern to us in the Arab world. When did we ever hear an American secretary of state call on Israel to give up its dream of a Greater Israel? When did we ever hear an American secretary of state insist that Israel must show a readiness for an exchange of land for peace?

Washington's continued criticisms of Israel on such issues as the infringement of human rights and the mistreatment of the Palestinians, the settlements in the occupied territories, cooperation with South Africa, the Israeli involvement in the international drug cartels, all reflect the growing gap between Washington and Tel Aviv ... I feel we must, in all fairness, acknowledge these changes in the Bush administration's positions.